The senior women’s football team, the Crested Cranes, is set to take on Ethiopia in the semi-final of the CECAFA Senior Women’s Champions that is underway at the FUFA Technical Center in Njeru.
The fixture was confirmed after Ethiopia finished second in group B of the tournament, behind Tanzania. To reach the semifinal, Ethiopia defeated South Sudan in the last group game, while Uganda had previously qualified for the semifinal after topping group A.
According to the tournament’s setting, the team that tops group A takes on the second-best in group B, while the best team in group B also faces the second-placed in group A.
Uganda put up an outstanding performance to complete the group fixtures with an unbeaten run and secure nine points. In the three group games, Uganda beat Rwanda 2-0 in the opener; also defeated Djibouti 5-0 on match day two; and defeated Burundi 4-1 in the last group game.
The regional tournament that started on June 1st 2022 with eight teams taking part has since reached the semifinals. The second semi-final will be between Tanzania and Burundi. The two semi-finals will be played on June 9th 2022, while the final will take place on June 11th 2022.
Crested Cranes coach George William Lutalo believes his players are in good form to face any team. “My players have put up an outstanding performance in the last games, players like Sandra Nabweteme and many others… and I am hopeful we shall have a good performance in our next game,” coach Lutalo earlier stated.
At the 2020 Under-20 CECAFA Women’s championship, Ethiopia came from behind to defeat Uganda 3-2 in the final and emerge champions of the tournament. Therefore, Uganda will have to put up a spirited fight if they are to overturn this history.
Both Uganda and Burundi are using the regional competition as preparations for the forthcoming African Women’s Cup of Nations that will be played later this year. The two qualified to represent the CECAFA regional in the continental championship.